Transplacental transmission of antibodies to tubular basement membrane in guinea-pigs with autoimmune tubulointerstitial nephritis.

The offspring of female guinea-pigs with tubulo-interstitial nephritis were studied for possible passive transfer of disease. Whereas no immune deposits were seen on or before day 30 of gestation, IgG was detected in the tubular basement membrane (TBM) of fetuses at and after day 44. Serum of offspring contained antibodies to TBM, albeit in much lower titres than found in circulation of the mother guinea-pigs. No histopathological changes were seen in fetal kidneys. Thus, autoantibodies induced by heteroimmunization of pregnant guinea-pigs may be transmitted to offspring in the last third of the gestation period and can bind to fetal TBM. However, this transfer of antibodies does not cause disease.